Interview with an atalanta butterfly

“Hey, you there! What are you doing here?”

I turn around surprised, but I don't see anyone except an atalanta butterfly sitting on a leaf.

'Yeah, I'm talking to you,“says the butterfly.

'Oh, happy. I thought I was going crazy. What is life like?”

'Well, not bad. As you can see, I'm enjoying a moment of rest in the sun and later I'm going to have some nectar candy.“he says lickbearer.

'That certainly doesn't sound wrong, 'I admit. “By the way, I'm glad to see you again. It's been so long since I saw an atalanta butterfly.”

'Do you pay attention then?'

'Yes, I do, but I don't see you very often in the Netherlands. '

'I am a migratory butterfly. In the summer I like to be here, but I like to skip the Dutch winters.'

“Aha, and where are you going?”

'Mainly southern Europe and in early spring we head north again.'

“Sounds good.”

The butterfly looks at me shaking head.
'Do you have any idea how dangerous this trip is for?'

“Uh, no, I have no idea.”

'We travel thousands of miles and often cross the mountains. Many of us never arrive.'

I'm pinking away a tear.

'Some of us are trying.. '

“What?” I ask.

'Overwinter in the Netherlands. Climate change helps us (or a wing). Soft winters we can survive. '

'Then I'd just stay here, 'I say. “Last winter it was unusually warm. I hope that trend continues. My cold feet like that too. '

'It's a gamble.“he says doubtful.

“If it gets too cold, you can stay with me, “I say.

'I think that's sweet of you.. '

'Ah, ladybugs often stay with me in the winter. That's how we spread love. But to come back to your first question. I was walking.”

'And I was on watch,'says the atalanta. 'This is my territory.'

“Oh, so I'm an intruder?”

'Yeah, but now that we've got to know each other, I'd like to see it through the wings.'

“I think that's sweet of you.”

'Thank you. You're my first human friend. But I have to go now because I see another man flying into my territory and I certainly can't see that through the wings.'

The atalanta flutters away after which he chased off the competition with an upward spiral flight. Then I see the butterfly patrolling its borders.
I'll wave a little and go back to my house. Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to seeing if I'm not entering another forbidden area. Pretty complicated like that.

#interview #atalanta #vlinder #natuur